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Entries for 'Dr Paul K Hatchwell'
28 August 2008
The worst recession in the UK construction market since World War 2 has prompted severe cut-backs and concerns over the impact on viability of sustainable building, leading to doubts over whether targets for zero emissions are still attainable. Yet parts of the market are holding up well and long-term prospects remain good overall, as long as we get the policies right now. Dr Paul K Hatchwell investigates a complex picture.
31 July 2008
A non-partisan examination of the Government’s ecotowns policy by highly respected environmental lawyers has uncovered serious legal and policy flaws which could undermine the credibility of its current plans for ten eco towns. Dr Paul K Hatchwell reports.
31 July 2008
The first assessment of eco-town project bidders by the 15-strong Eco towns Challenge Panel has revealed a largely unsatisfactory level of sustainability ambition among the shortlisted bids. Dr Paul K Hatchwell reports.
30 June 2008
It is well known that Germany has made impressive inroads into a decarbonised economy with renewables, but even at the local scale, it leads on retrofitting of buildings, boosted by powerful incentives. Dr Paul K Hatchwell looks at key examples of progress and what lessons there could be for the UK sustainable building industry and microgeneration.
30 June 2008
Despite a growing emphasis on sustainable building in the construction industry, now rapidly becoming mainstream through revised and new Government planning policies, regulatory reforms and Government-backed initiatives such as BREEAM, Dr Paul K Hatchwell finds little hard data on how well these changes are reflected in actual building performance.
31 May 2008
Sustainable building practices are slowly moving into the commercial refurbishment and retrofit market, driven by both legislative requirements and good corporate housekeeping considerations. In the final part of a series on sustainable retrofit, Dr Paul K Hatchwell looks particularly at energy issues facing the sustainable offices sector
30 April 2008
The Ordnance Survey is on course to relocate over 1,000 staff from central Southampton to a new, £40m prestige headquarters north of Southampton by 2009. Dr Paul K Hatchwell explores how OS has used the opportunity to adopt a wide range of sustainable building features in the project enabling a 45% cut in workplace CO2 emissions.
30 April 2008
A consultation document* outlining the Government’s formal proposals on new eco towns seeks views on both the principle and shortlist of proposed sites as an intense debate rages over the appropriateness of the concept as a means of achieving sustainable development. Dr Paul K Hatchwell looks at the Government’s plans and key issues raised in them for sustainable building.
30 April 2008
Isle of Wight Council (IWC) has committed to transforming itself into “the first truly sustainable island”, with a package of measures launched at its first Eco-Island conference providing a major boost for sustainable building and renewables. Dr Paul K Hatchwell reports from Cowes on a remarkable policy shift.
31 March 2008
Major strains on water supply and increased flood risk linked to climate change threaten, particularly in the South East of England, yet only now is the full extent of the potential crisis prompting a fundamental rethink of Government water and housing policy, with sustainable building best-placed to exploit the much stricter regime. Dr Paul K Hatchwell investigates the implications